Senior Jacob Eason, locally known as as “Skinny,” has made one of the biggest decisions of his life – to graduate early and start college before the rest of his senior classmates. He made this choice at the end of his sophomore football season when he received a phone call.

On the other end of that phone call was Coach Mike Bobo, who at the time was the offensive coordinator for The University of Georgia.

“He [said] he liked my film, and [from there] we started building a relationship,” Eason said. “It was just a call, and then it went to one phone call a week after that.”

Those phone calls were enough for Eason, and Georgia was added to the long list of schools for Eason to visit.

Eason visited many colleges, including Notre Dame, which his dad attended, and his home-town school UW. So why Georgia?

“I just liked Georgia the best,” Eason said. “A lot of quarterbacks from Georgia go to the NFL – that was motivating. Nothing against UW – it just wasn’t the right fit for me.”

On August 19, 2015, the University of Georgia football coaching staff came to LSHS to officially sign Eason, which was a great moment for him and one that he considers a blessing.

Eason’s unique situation begs the question of why he has chosen to graduate high school early and miss out on the traditional senior activities that many seniors look forward to experiencing. Having his friends’ supported his decision to to graduate early.

Senior and close friend, Samuel Burke, said “It would be stupid of him to stay when he can go out there and get right to learning Georgia’s offense.”

Eason wasn’t alone in his journey to graduate early. One of his biggest assets was his mother, who made sure he was taking all the classes he needed to.

“[Early graduation] was always on my mind, I got to thinking I wanted to go down there and learn the offensive fast, and an early graduation is the best way to do that,” Eason said. “I’ve been taking more advanced classes since the [beginning]; my first transcript has seventh grade algebra, I can thank my mom for that. I have to take CAI and CWI this semester, along with two English classes. I have to get all the basics done to graduate here and for the NCAA.”

Principal Cahan commented that if students have a clear plan for high school, graduating early is attainable; however, in his career, he has seen about three percent of students accomplish this task.

Not many students would be willing to leave halfway through the best year of high school to get an early start. Then again Eason isn’t most students.

“Obviously there is a little remorse, but [I have no regrets.],” Eason said.

After Eason settles into his dorm room, he will start taking classes and start working with the team and learning its offense. Eason will have a roommate, who is not only on the football team, but who is also making the sacrifice to graduate early.

While all of Eason’s friends will be busy worrying about finals and Prom, Eason will be in college classes, playing college ball, and on the road to reaching his dream.